Collapsed Bridge Halts Healthcare, Trade; Residents Demand Urgent Govt Intervention in Zoduah, Grand Cape Mount; Threatens 10,000 Lives
BY: Clarence T. Barjibo
Grand Cape Mount County Correspondent
GRAND CAPE MOUNT COUNTY — Thousands of residents in Zoduah Clan have been cut off from essential services after a critical bridge linking the area to Gola Konneh District collapsed into a river, prompting urgent appeals for government intervention amid heavy seasonal rains.
The collapse, which occurred in recent days, has severed the main transportation route for an estimated 10,000 residents, disrupting movement of people, goods, and emergency health referrals.
The bridge served as the primary link between Zoduah Clan and neighboring communities, including access points to healthcare facilities.
Residents, led by community leaders, are calling on the Ministry of Public Works, Grand Cape Mount County legislative caucus, and District #2 Representative Hon. Mohammed Dosii to prioritize emergency repairs.
General Town Chief Gbassay Fahnbulleh said repeated community-led maintenance efforts failed due to the structure’s advanced deterioration.
“We tried to patch it ourselves, but the bridge was already beyond repair,” Fahnbulleh told KMTV. “Now, with the rains, we have no way out.”
Women in the clan warned that the situation poses a direct threat to maternal and emergency healthcare.
Patients requiring treatment at Karnga Clinic and emergency referrals to Sinje Comprehensive Health Center now face dangerous delays, they said.
Meanwhile, Residents cautioned that continued inaction could further isolate Zoduah Clan, deepen poverty, and worsen living conditions as the rainy season intensifies.
They urged the Ministry of Public Works to conduct an immediate assessment and deploy emergency resources to restore connectivity.